Former DPS Trooper Arrested on Drug Related Charges

Friday, 06 September 2013 10:56 | Written by Lisa Tipton | | |

Brown County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant on 4406 MacArthur Circle in Brownwood, Texas on September 5th, 2013, at about 7:50 pm, and arrested Eric Whitley, a white male, 40 years of age, and Stacie Elizabeth Bishop, a white female, 36 years of age.

In a press release, BCSO officials reported the following details:

Whitley and Bishop were arrested at the residence, charged with felony offenses, and booked into the Brown County Jail. Brownwood Police Department assisted with the search and arrest.

Eric Whitley and Stacie Bishop were suspected of trafficking drugs, primarily marijuana and methamphetamine, in the Brownwood and Brown County area and have been a target of the Brown County narcotics officers for some time.

On September 5, 2013, BCSO Deputies Carlyle Gover and James Stroope, through investigative work and surveillances, learned that Whitley and Bishop were trafficking significant drug quantities at the above address. A search warrant was secured and officers executed the warrant on the residence at about 7:50 pm. Inside Whitley’s residence, deputies seized about 7 ounces of suspected Cocaine and smaller quantities of marijuana and methamphetamine along with an illegal short barreled shotgun. Officers also seized numerous evidentiary items including drug paraphernalia, pipes, digital scales and distribution material and significant information on co-conspirators. Bishop is a previously convicted felon who was discharged from Pardons and Parole on 03-26-2011. Years ago, Whitley had previously been a DPS Trooper in Brownwood. The seized drugs were tested in presumptive field tests and final analysis will be conducted by crime labs.

Whitley and Bishop were charged with the following drug charges: Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1, under 200 grams, 1st Degree Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, under 1 gram, State Jail Felony Possession of marijuana, under 2 ounces, Class B Misdemeanor Prohibited Weapon, 3rd Degree Felony, and Bishop was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, 3rd Degree Felony.

"This investigation and seizure is significant in size and scope in relation to Brown County. This amount of cocaine is especially large, and consistent with larger trafficking to a number of subordinate dealers,” Sheriff Bobby Grubbs said. “The Brown County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the follow up investigation in this case which will remain ongoing. CID Deputy Carlyle Gover is the lead investigator and CID Investigator James Stroope is the co-case investigator. Sergeant Lana Guthrie is the CID Supervisor. These officers should be contacted if anyone has additional information in regards to this investigation. Our deputies have put a lot of hard work and long hours into this investigation and I commend them for their efforts."

Pictured above are Whitley and Bishop. Below, a Brown County Sheriff's Investigator places Whitley under arrest.